Cold Feet

Chapter 23- Lucy

"Hey Mom." I say grabbing my bag from the bus. My voice is thick with sleep after sleeping the entire way home. I had only just woken up.

"Are you guys back, darling?" She sounds too chipper.

"Yeah, the bus just pulled in." With my bag in tow, I head towards the house.

"Okay! Well, Moose was a very good boy this weekend. He wouldn't eat unless I added extras to his food."

I roll my eyes. "Mom, he fakes you out so you'll put something good in his food."

"Well, I made him bacon, eggs, and I gave him some cornbread. He loved it."

"I'm sure he did." I mutter.

"I also cleaned the house, did your laundry, and cleaned out all the drawers of the kitchen. I know when you're busy little things like that get neglected."

"Thanks, Mom." I cross the street. "I'll be home in a few minutes, just wanted to let you know."

"See you soon, love." Click. I continue walking at a fast pace, wanting nothing more than to see my favorite furball. Even though he's the team's unofficial mascot, he can't go on away trips with me. Luckily, my mom never minds staying at the house to watch him. She loves to help out and be around as much as she can.

As I step on the front porch, I see a pair of white eyebrows staring at me from the living room window. As soon as I open the door, Moose comes bolting from the couch towards me. "Hey buddy." He looks freshly bathed with a bowtie on. "Mom!" I call out. "You didn't have to give Moose a bath!"

"Oh, sure I did. He told me he wanted it." She appears in the hallway.

"Just like he told you he wanted bacon?" I question. Moose's head tilts to the side and he wags his tail.

"Precisely. Now, let's go get lunch and you can tell me all about your weekend." I drop my suitcase off in my room and then head out the door with her. I feel like I can't say no after she watched my dog all weekend, even though all I want to do is go back to bed. This weekend was exhausting.

We head to Annie's Diner, and I give her all the details of the weekend. She fills me in on all the drama at work and it's nice to spend time just the two of us, without dad. She's been happier and more carefree since the divorce. Once lunch is over, she leaves, and I go back home to get some rest.

When I step back inside the house, Dani and Riley are on the couch. "Hey, Luc! How was lunch with your mom?"

"Nice." I say plopping down on the couch. I glance towards Riley, who is half asleep in their chair. As soon as the game ended on Saturday, I didn't see them again until it was time to get back on the bus. "Riley, where were you last night?"

They grin sleepily. "I met a drag queen who definitely knew how to party all night. Where were you, Dani? I saw you with a smile on your face this morning." They wiggle their eyebrows.

Dani rolls her eyes. "I made out with someone, but that's it." She gives Riley a pointed look. "It was a nice step towards officially leaving Stacy in the past."

They both turn towards me. "And how was your night?"

I clear my throat. "I tried. I talked to a girl named Meg, but—"

"She wasn't Mallory?" Riley finishes for me.

I cut them a look. "I just wasn't into Meg."

"So, what did you do last night then?" Dani asks me curiously, even though the look she gives me makes me feel like she knows.

"Mallory and I FaceTimed." I tell them honestly. What's there to hide anyway? "Regionals are coming up this week and she's anxious. As her friend, I'm being supportive."